Iowa Code § 817.1
It shall be lawful for the sheriff of any county or the chief of police in any city in this state, to take or procure the taking of the photograph of any person held to answer on a charge of any felony, such person being in the custody of such officer, or to make and record any measurements of such prisoner, by the Bertillon or other system, and to exchange such photographs, or measurements, or copies of the same, with other sheriffs and police officers, or to distribute the same by mail for the purpose of securing evidence for the identification of such person held to answer, if the identity and past record of the said person are unknown to the sheriff or chief of police; and the cost of such photographs and measurements, and of distributing the same, may be allowed by the court as a part of the costs in the case.
Iowa Code § 817.1